Dance Science and Education MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgDip
Awards: MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgDip
Study modes: Part-time Intermittent Study, Full-time, Part-time
Accreditation
Funding opportunities
Placements/internships
Programme website: Dance Science and Education
When applying for the programme, my interest wasn’t in dance science or dance education, so much as in dance. I hoped that the programme would let me focus and expand upon my particular interests, suggest new areas of exploration and provide a grounding to dance science and to dance education. It did!
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If you are interested in the development of dance education, a comprehensive understanding of the science underpinning the art form is a must.
This innovative programme - the only one of its kind in Scotland - offers just that, giving you the scientific theory and specialist skills that will inspire you to push the frontiers of dance and dance education.
How will I learn?
Through an applied and multi-disciplinary blend of theory and practice, you will
- learn to prepare dancers to improve performance
- explore the biopsychosocial and developmental issues that relate to dance education and training
- develop an awareness of changing trends in dance science & education
Resources
As you study the science relevant to dance performance and education, you will have access to resources at:
- Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences
- Human Performance Science research group
The programme is offered full or part-time, with Masters or Postgraduate Diploma routes.
MSc Dance Science and Education with Teaching Qualification (TQs) pathway
The MSc Dance Science and Education with TQs is a teaching pathway to registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). This is currently the only route to GTCS registration as a teacher for dance specialists qualified to teach learners aged 3-18 years in schools.
The pathway is offered as a Master of Science and can be completed over 15 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time). The pathway is not available as a Postgraduate diploma.
Graduates of this degree pathway are recommended to the GTCS for provisional registration. Upon completion of the required probationary period of teaching, you may register with the GTCS as a teacher with a subject specialism in dance.
Many dance teachers work in school and community contexts. However, it is a legal requirement for any teacher in the Scottish state school system to be registered with the GTCS. Being registered not only allows you to teach but also provides assurances to employers, parents and children that you meet a national standard of teaching.
Accreditation
If you choose the GTCS-accredited Teaching Qualification (TQs) pathway, this degree will enable you to apply for GTCS registration and teach in schools with a subject specialism of dance across 3-18 years.
Your learning will incorporate a variety of approaches including lectures, student-led seminars, presentations, practical skills training and project work.
To earn an MSc, on completion of your course credits, you will also produce an independently researched dissertation.
Compulsory courses
- Dance Pedagogy
- Preventive Dance Medicine
- Sources of Knowledge: understanding and analysing research literature
- Conceptualising Research: Foundations, Assumptions and Praxis
Option courses
You will also choose 2-3 option courses (40 credits) from a range offered at Moray House School of Education and Sport and may include for example:
- Assessment of physical activity and body composition
- Child and adolescent development
- Education for all
- Physical activity for health
- Psychology for physical activity
- Strength and conditioning for specific populations
Additional options may be chosen from courses offered by relevant schools within the University, subject to approval by your Programme Director and Course Organiser.
The core courses are designed to be delivered in intensive blocks of study. This enables students who cannot be in Edinburgh full time due to teaching or performance commitments to complete the degree by combining the intensive blocks with online optional courses.
MSc Dance Science & Education with Teaching Qualification (TQs) pathway
To earn the Masters with TQs, you will not take any option courses, but will instead complete an additional compulsory course:
- Professional Development and Leadership in Dance Teaching
Please note that the MSc Dance Science and Education with TQs starts in August which is earlier in the academic year than the regular MSc Dance Science and Education.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Dance Science and Education | Up to 6 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Programme structure 2023/24 |
MSc | Dance Science and Education | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
MSc | Dance Science and Education with Teaching Qualification | 15 Months | Full-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
MSc | Dance Science and Education | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
MSc | Dance Science and Education with Teaching Qualification | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
PgDip (ICL) | Dance Science and Education | Up to 4 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Programme structure 2023/24 |
PgDip | Dance Science and Education | 9 Months | Full-time | Programme structure 2023/24 |
The Teaching Qualification (TQs) pathway includes 18 weeks of placement experience in schools and community settings.
Whether you are a recent graduate or a mid-career professional, this programme will prepare you for further research, which can be channelled into an academic career or used to advance your performing, teaching or educational career. The transferable skills you gain, such as communication and project management, will also be valuable in enhancing any career options.
If you choose the GTCS-accredited Teaching Qualification (TQs) pathway, this degree will enable you to apply for GTCS registration and teach in schools with a subject specialism of dance across 3-18 years.
Recent graduate destinations include lecturing and teaching positions in Higher Education, teaching positions in schools, dance development officers for local authorities, research positions, further study at PhD level and physiotherapy programmes.
Students make use of excellent on-campus facilities that include St Leonard’s Land dance studio and BASES-accredited scientific research laboratories.
Because of the University's historic and well-founded reputation in Dance Education, students can access extensive and rare resources related to the field of dance and medical practice in the University's libraries.
These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.
We may also consider your application if you have relevant employment or professional experience; please contact us to check before you apply.
With your application you will be required to submit a digital portfolio evidencing your professional dance related practice. This should include, for example, footage of your own performance, your own original choreography performed by your students/dancers, or you in a teaching context.
MSc Dance Science & Education with Teaching Qualification (TQs) pathway-specific requirements
If you are applying for the MSc Dance Science and Education with TQs, in order to be eligible for provisional registration as a teacher, you must have achieved a level of competence in English and Mathematics which is approved by the GTCS upon completion of your degree. This would normally be:
SQA Higher Grade pass at levels A, B, C (or equivalent) in English
SQA Standard Grade (Credit Level 1 or 2) pass in Mathematics or its equivalent
Selection for the MSc Dance Science and Education with Teaching Qualification involves a professional interview.
If you are not sure of your eligibility, please contact the Programme Director or dse@ed.ac.uk to find out more about these requirements.
The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is also only required for students on the Teaching Qualification (TQs) pathway. Students on the general MSc Dance Science and Education programme do not require one.
Students from China
This degree is Band C.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups
All successful applicants will be required to join Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme before starting the programme. In addition, all applicants who don't live in the UK, or who have spent more than a year abroad, will need to provide equivalent verification from the relevant national authority.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Dance Science and Education | Up to 6 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Tuition fees |
MSc | Dance Science and Education | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
MSc | Dance Science and Education with Teaching Qualification | 15 Months | Full-time | Tuition fees |
MSc | Dance Science and Education | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
MSc | Dance Science and Education with Teaching Qualification | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
PgDip (ICL) | Dance Science and Education | Up to 4 Years | Part-time Intermittent Study | Tuition fees |
PgDip | Dance Science and Education | 9 Months | Full-time | Tuition fees |
Moray House Country Scholarship
Moray House School of Education and Sport is pleased to offer five £10,000 scholarships to study a Master’s degree programme commencing in September 2023. These will be based on merit and available to applicants from eligible countries.
Moray House Access Scholarship
Moray House School of Education and Sport is pleased to offer a scholarship covering tuition fees and living costs for one student. The scholarship is for UK nationals domiciled in the UK, from backgrounds or groups which are underrepresented in our School.
(Revised 1 February 2023 to add funding opportunities)
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments. The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Postgraduate Admissions
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: Admissions Office
- Programme Director, Dr Wendy Timmons
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 6596
- Contact: dse@ed.ac.uk
- Moray House School of Education and Sport
- Old Moray House
- Holyrood Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 8AQ
- Programme: Dance Science and Education
- School: Education and Sport (Moray House)
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc Dance Science and Education (ICL) 2-6 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study)
MSc Dance Science and Education - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc Dance Science and Education with TQs - 15 Months (Full-time)
MSc Dance Science and Education - 24 Months (Part-time)
MSc Dance Science and Education with TQs - 24 Months (Part-time)
PgDip Dance Science and Education (ICL) 1-4 Years (Part-time Intermittent Study)
PgDip Dance Science and Education - 9 Months (Full-time)
Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.
Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2023/24*:
Round | Application deadline | Places awarded by |
---|---|---|
1 | 13 December 2022 | 28 February 2023 |
2 | 15 March 2023 | 18 May 2023 |
3 | 04 July 2023 | 31 July 2023 |
(*Revised 13 December to add in staged admissions deadlines)
You must submit one reference with your application.
You must submit a portfolio, which should include evidence of a required level of professional dance practice (teaching and performance). This can be evidence through digital footage of yourself and any additional evidence you wish to provide.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Postgraduate Admissions
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: Admissions Office
- Programme Director, Dr Wendy Timmons
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 6596
- Contact: dse@ed.ac.uk
- Moray House School of Education and Sport
- Old Moray House
- Holyrood Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 8AQ
- Programme: Dance Science and Education
- School: Education and Sport (Moray House)
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences